I’m taking a lot of time with this particular subject because I really haven’t read that much about it anywhere and it’s a very important subject for me personally, and I am certain it is for others as well. (Even though they may not realize the significance of it in their life!)
I want to shed some light on it so that others may be able to see if they can identify this as one of their problems when it comes to an inability to thrive in every area of their lives—-physically, spiritually, emotionally, and in creativity—which can lead to frustration, depression, confusion, and lack of direction/purpose.
{ I know how much it helped me when I found that there were others like me who struggled greatly with the weather and overall environment of where they live. }
So before you decide that it isn’t true—and that the old adage “bloom where you are planted” should be the theme for your life, and you are perhaps sometimes guilt-tripped into feeling like there is something wrong with you when you can’t seem to “give thanks and just love where you live”— and that our environment has nothing to do with our health, attitudes, or purpose, I want you to think about some of the people in your life… as well as maybe yourself?
Perhaps you are already agreeing with me wholeheartedly but if you are on the fence, here are some real-life examples to think about. I bet you might know some in your own life, too.
These are just a few examples from my own circle of friends and relatives, as well as one I don’t know personally…
• My cousin lived for many years in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, but whenever she had vacation time she headed to the beaches of South Carolina. And she would post photos on Facebook of the ocean views with her own writings of how close she felt to God there. She would say things like this, “This is where I belong. This is where I feel God.”
• A good friend of our family was born and raised in Italy. In her 20s, she got a temporary job at the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT in Orlando, Florida. She thought she had died and gone to heaven. Florida and the beaches and the weather in Florida became her new passion and love. For years she traveled to many places in the world as a single woman. She eventually married and now lives in Hawaii but she still says that Florida is one of her favorite place on earth. Hawaii does have the beaches and the sun and the palm trees that she so loves, but she says that the people there are not her people, nor is the place as much her place as Florida.
• A high school friend of mine had to move from South Florida to Pennsylvania with her family. She dislikes it there and so some 40 years later she is trying to get back to Florida. She talks about loving palm trees and the sun and the beach and the ocean.
• One of my sister-in-laws told me that she comes alive at the ocean. As soon as she smells the ocean air she feels a thrill, renewed energy, and inspiration.
• I have known a number of people (friends) here where I live who feel imprisoned in their homes for 6-7 months out of the year. If you have never lived in or visited Florida, you can’t possibly understand what it’s like living day after day with extreme high temperatures combined with high humidity. Jungle weather. For many, like me, it’s draining. But there are others who love it!
• Another friend of mine actually has extremely poor health here in Florida. But when she goes to the mountains in North Georgia, she feels physically and emotionally healthy almost instantly. Her mom told me that she went with her one time and she could hardly believe the difference in her. Here in Florida she has migraines and body aches and she has to pull down all the blinds, lie around, and only ventures out to run her errands in the evenings and at night. But when she goes to the mountains she is immediately full of energy and can even do hard labor as she and her husband work on a “fixer upper” home for her to escape to during Florida’s worst summer months. She even sent me pictures of herself and her family doing white water rafting just a couple of days after, here at her Florida home, she was lying in bed! It was like a miracle occurred! And in a sense, it IS a miracle! Just think. A change in her environment completely rejuvenated her—body, soul, and spirit! (Her mom, on the other hand, got sick in the high altitudes of the mountains! Her blood pressure went sky high and she and her husband had to rush home! SHE loves Florida.)
* In a marriage DVD teaching that my husband and I watched together, there was a story of a husband and wife who moved to a different part of the country due to the wife’s poor health where they lived in Chicago, Illinois. Apparently the cold weather and humidity were wreaking havoc (constant pain) in her muscles and joints. When they by chance accepted an invitation to a friend’s second home in Phoenix, Arizona, they discovered that her “chronic, debilitating, not treatable” condition cleared up! At the husband’s decision and sacrifice of a job that he loved, they made the move for her health. (God blessed him with a job he ended up loving even more than the one in Chicago!)
I don’t need any more proof. For all these people, including myself, when they are in “their place” they do come alive in every way—spiritually, emotionally, creatively, and with physical health and energy.
But I simply must add here (again!!), that if you are NOT in what you believe is “your place,” God will give you strength and grace to endure—and even thrive in some ways.
Also, remember, that there is more than one “place”— there is our ultimate place and purpose in Christ, and our work/ministry/family, and then our environment. Sometimes it is difficult to get them all working together. I speak from experience.
God’s will and purpose for us is paramount. As I’ve said before, our ultimate place is “in Him” so no matter where we are or what we are doing we can find peace and fulfillment in Him.
Our first “place” is in Him and to be “in Him” we can be anywhere in the world doing any kind of job in any kind of circumstances. { Even in prison! Like the Apostle Paul! }
Our second “place” is doing what we are created to do with “our people.”
And our third “place” is our environment—where we live, etc.
Many people never get all 3 of these aligned and can still live joyful and productive lives. It’s a good thing because I would imagine that the majority of us don’t have this blessing! But, I believe, the ultimate is to have all 3 “places” aligned and that we should continually ask God for this, if it is His sovereign will.
Stay sensitive to God in all of these things. He may have a reason and a season and purpose for where you are…while you pray for the place you believe (or hope) you should be.